Hospitals, doctors and other health care workers could get support in their opposition to performing abortions, euthanasia or procedures on transgender people through a new federal office on "Conscience and Religious Freedom."

The new division will be part of the Department of Health and Human Service's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and will help medical professionals who object to certain procedures on religious grounds.

"The Founding Fathers knew that a nation that respects conscience rights is more diverse and more free, and OCR’s new division will help make that vision a reality," said acting HHS Secretary Eric Hargan in prepared remarks.

The office of civil rights is a law enforcement agency within HHS that enforces federal laws protecting civil rights and conscience in health and human services, and the security and privacy of people’s health information. OCR already has enforcement authority over federal "conscience protection statutes," as HHS calls them, including those on assisted suicide and some federal nondiscrimination laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion in HHS programs.

HHS said its new division will provide "the focus it needs to more vigorously and effectively enforce existing laws protecting the rights of conscience and religious freedom, the first freedom protected in the Bill of Rights."

“Laws protecting religious freedom and conscience rights are just empty words on paper if they aren’t enforced," said Roger Severino, President Trump's OCR director. "No one should be forced to choose between helping sick people and living by one’s deepest moral or religious convictions, and the new division will help guarantee that victims of unlawful discrimination find justice."

But the definition of just who that victim is — and the scope of the perceived problem — varies by political views. And efforts to expand so-called "religious exceptions" to medical procedures are expected to face legal battles.

"No one’s medical choices should be limited by somebody else’s religious beliefs. We expect our doctors to prescribe us medical care based on their professional expertise, not their religious opinions," said Larry Decker, executive director of the Secular Coalition for America in a statement. "This action will undermine the trust between patient and doctor, inserting religion into a conversation that should be based on medical science and the best interests of the patient."

Acting Secretary Eric Hargan, at left, speaks with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy at a news conference announcing a new division on Conscience and Religious Freedom at the Department of Health and Human Services January 18, 2018 .(Photo: Aaron P. Bernstein, Getty Images)

Americans United for Life, on the other hand, heralded the announcement, with chief legal officer Steven Aden calling it "a strong step forward for pro-life community and for all people."

Aden vowed to keep working with states to develop legislation to protect "conscience rights."

"Rights of conscience laws allow pro life individuals and organizations to continue providing vital healthcare and services in their community without having to perform abortions or other services that violate their conscience," Aden said in a statement.